If Used Wisely, Bulls Have Time on Their Side

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors 96-80 Friday. All five Bulls starters scored in double figures in the road victory. Derrick Rose sat out the game because of a hamstring injury. So the only logical conclusion some folks draw from all this is that the Bulls are a better team without their best player. Something says, based on the way the Raptors played, the Bulls could have won without a couple more of their better players.

Crystal Hefner in a music studio or in a bikini? Her latest music video is below.

* Speaking of Rose, there is no guarantee he will play Saturday against the Indiana Pacers (9-0) at the United Center. To have the former NBA Most Valuable Player is less important this time of year than it is when it’s the postseason. Provided that the Bulls reach the playoffs — which, given the competition in the Eastern Conference, seems likely, if not a certainty.

* Speaking of time, Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich played 40 minutes and forward Luol Deng 38. In a blowout. In the Pacers’ 104-77 victory vs. the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, no starter played more than 33 minutes. Just an uneducated guess (the only type that we provide around here) that playing time will be of the essence in the Bulls-Pacers matchup. And an equally uneducated guess that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau will play his starters heavy minutes, unless the game is a blowout (with the Bulls being the team being blown out).

* People complaining about highly touted high school players going to schools other than the ones they root for need to get a life. Even if the process does involve a press conference at which the player initially picks up the wrong hat. Which was the case with Cliff Alexander, who opted for Kansas over Illinois. Expecting a high school kid to show maturity? Right after alleged grownups do.

* Speaking of disappointment (which, at last look, was a part of life that enhances delight), you can say this much for baseball’s postseason awards. You don’t hear Cubs or White Sox fans whining about the team’s players being overlooked for MLB honors. Yep, that’s the bright side to the 2013 season for the Cubs and Sox. Well, that and high draft picks.

* And, for the first time in a long time, there will be no reminder to vote for “Sports & Torts” in the Podcastawards.com competition. Voting has ended. David Spada and I — co-hosts for the weekly interview program on Talkzone.com — would like to thank everyone who voted for us. Winners will be announced in January.

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